Emulsion foam reducer for wet processing of cellulose or woodbased products or in food processing

Abstract

An emulsion is provided for defoaming water used in processing of various products such as cellulose or wood-based products or in food processing which is formed by reacting a fatty acid with a compound selected from the group consisting of ammonia, sodium, potassium and combinations thereof so as to form a water soluble soap, dispersing the water soluble soap in water and homogenizing the dispersed water soluble soap with hydrophobic oil or hydrocarbon oil to produce the emulsion. Methods for preparing the emulsion and using the emulsion are also provided. The emulsion is advantageous in that it can improve water resistance and/or reduce the use of water resistant additives during processing of cellulose or wood-based products or food-grade products.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62 / 117,934, filed Feb. 18, 2015, said application being incorporated in its entirety herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates in general to a method of reducing foam and entrained air in industrial water processes with an efficient and low cost defoamer / antifoaming agent. The present invention can also contribute to improved water resistance or reduced use of water resistant additives when used in wet process cellulose or wood based products. The invention can also be used in food processing, in particular for treatments employing alum (aluminum sulfate) and other similar compounds, e.g., in pickle processing.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Foam and entrained air are problems that affect processing efficiency and product quality in a number of industries. These industries can include manufacturing processes for food gr...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0024]A method is provided for making insulation board, hardboard, paperboard, and other products made with the wet process paper process; said method including refining wood or wood chip into fiber adding binder, flocculants like aluminum sulfate, and adding wax emulsion consisting of blends of paraffin wax and/or paraffin oil, Fatty acid soap neutralized with ammonia, like ammonium stearate. The method includes adding emulsion to process water in a manner to evenly distribute wax emulsion and to allow for the fatty acid soap to react with the aluminum from the aluminum sulfate or hardness ions to form water resistant additive like aluminum stearate thus changing soap in the emulsion into water resistant additive and contributing to defoamer properties. The method of the invention allows for reduced wax usage or improved water resistant properties in the final product while reducing foam;

Problems solved by technology

Foam and entrained air are problems that affect processing efficiency and product quality in a number of industries.

Foam and entrained air are particular costly problems within the pulp and paper industries.

Foam and entrained air reduces efficiency and impacts surface quality of paper, paperboard and other wet process wood based products.

These small particles, when in contact with the bubble, thin the bubble at the point of contact and causes bubble to pop.

One of the problems with some current defoaming emulsions is the emulsion has to have a sufficiently high viscosity to keep hydrophobic particles suspended.

This can cause difficulty in pumping, particularly if some of the suspended particles settle out.

Another issue is the soaps used to make these defoamer emulsions have a negative effect on the level of water resistance produc